The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1859. THE “DIRECT-PURCHASE” MOVE.

New Zealander, Volume XV, Issue 1366, 21 May 1859, Page 3

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1859. THE “DIRECT-PURCHASE” MOVE.

He just amt fear not; Let all the ends thou aim'it at, be thy Country’s, Thy Goo's, and Truth’s.

The machinations of the promoters of this “ move” have not been wholly without success. They have accomplished, and are still in the way to accomplish, a vast deal of “ mischief.” Already the Natives have been taught to look forward to a period, not very distant, when they will be allowed to sell their lands directly to the Pctkeha , at prices which, to them, must appear somewhat fabulous ; and the consequence is, we have been informed, that the agents of the Government are now unable to obtain from the Native owners any portion of the lands which are lying waste in the vicinity of the settled districts around Auckland, except at prices which absolutely preclude their purchase. Meanwhile, immigrants are arriving in great numbers. On every side—from every quarter where the Agencies of the Provincial Government have been established—there are positive indications of a very extensive and most valuable immigration to Auckland, —the free grants of land being the primary and sufficient Inducement.

No one, we apprehend, will be found positively to maintain that immigration should not be encouraged, or that every accession to the numbers!of the population is not an increase to the wealth of the Province, and an additional security for its peace and progress. The sole condition upon which we can expect immigration to continue, is the having an abundant supply of available land always ready for occupation. Up to the present period there has been no want, ror is there likely to be any difficulty for some time to come. But, if immigrants continue to pom- in as it seems certain they will—and if the acquisition of good land by the Government from the Native owners is put an cud to, it needs no special foresight to predict the consequences. The “direct-purchase” party —who have particular objects in view, and whose motives appear to be not wholly unselfish—are, by means of their emissaries and supporters, operating upon the cupidity of the Natives who reside south of Auckland, by promises of large prices for their lands us soon as the “ new system” shall come into operation. The result is, as we have stated, that the Maories either will not sell to the Government at any price, or else only upon such terms as cannot be entertained. Indeed, boast is made openly by individuals who are adherents of the direct-purchase part}', that, relying upon their power over the present Ministry, and in anticipation of the accomplishment of their scheme, prospective bargains with some of the Waikato Chiefs for immense tracts of land, have already been made.

We have no means of ascertaining 1 the extent to which such transactions have been carried ; but having been able, on a former occasion, to demonstrate the utter hollowness and falsity of the public grounds on which the necessity for a change of system in dealing with Native Lands was advocated, we were not unprepared for the display of the true colours of the party and the exhibition of their real purpose —although we must confess some surprise at the boldness and utter defiance of legal restraints evinced m this matter. The Native Land Purchase Ordinance, as our readers are aware, was enacted in 1840, under the Government of Sir Goorgo Grey, for the special purpose of preventing or punishing direct dealing for land, by European setleu, with the Natives, Sir George and ids Council at that time believed that the “ general tranquility of the Colony was liable to be seriously endangered” by such practices, and proposed to inflict a penalty of not less than £5 or more than £IOO, upon any person found guilty of being engaged therein. In order to secure the effect of the Act, one-half the penalty was proposed to be given to the person who procured the com ictlon ; but lest the temptation of the reward should lead to oppressive or vexatious proceedings, the power to lay informations under the Ordinance was given exclusively to the Surveyor-General, or some other person specially appointed by the Governor. In the year 1856, however, and during the Superinteudency of Dr. Campbell, there was passed the “ Native Land Purchase Ordinance Amendment Act,” of which the first clause is as follows; 1. So much of the said recited Ordinance us provides that no person shall be convicted of any of the offences mentioned in such Ordinance, except on the information or complaint of the Sur-veyor-General of the said Colony, or of some other Officer duly authorised in that behalf by his Excellency tho Governor of the said Colony, is hereby repealed. Whether the amendment, by which the trade of the informer was specially encouraged, is or >s not an improvement upon S : r George Grey's Act, our readers will determine ; our duty is to indicate the state ol tho law as it now exists, and to show that is in the power of any individual—who, having the interests of tho Province at heart, desires to prevent illegal dealings in native lands—at once to bring offenders to justice.